8/23/2006 7:09:16 AM

WOW!!!! The details, colors, and lighting here are AMAZING, Connie :o)!!! This should definitely be a finalist or a winner in my book! It's so cool how you can see all the little details of this "monster" in this image!!! AWESOME JOB!

8/23/2006 7:44:15 AM

Wow, Connie, this is a beautiful photo! It looks like you might have added some PS filters, would you mind sharing with us what you did to it? Thanks, Cathy.

8/23/2006 9:14:22 AM

Thanks Antonio, Crystal, and Cathy. Cathy, I have added my processing sequence to the description below the photo---should have put it there to start with so thanks for asking. Since you "noticed" the PS filters I'm thinking I probably used too heavy a hand with them (one of my recurring faults) so may go back and rework this a bit.

8/23/2006 9:58:32 AM

Thanks for the info, Connie. But I don't think you need to make changes - it is pretty awesome the way it is!

8/23/2006 10:02:22 AM

WOW, Connie! This guy is amazing -- the level of detail, color, lighting -- totally awesome. Is it a mosquito? That's all I can come up with. Can't say I've come upon one quite so close up or dew-drenched!

8/23/2006 12:01:28 PM

Connie, excellent colors, detail, exposure, lighting and effects.

8/23/2006 2:38:38 PM

Amazingly great detail. Look at those eyes!

8/23/2006 3:53:11 PM

Yay! Another Connie photo :) Nice job Connie, I really like the bug (mom claims it is a mosquito). Nice brilliant colors, and a cute pose on the bug's part. Nice photo!

8/23/2006 4:07:36 PM

Thanks Kathy, Janine, Mary, and Rebecca. He's not a mosquito (I hope). His body is at least an inch long. I have some of these every summer but I don't have a clue what they are. They look mean but have never been aggressive.

8/23/2006 5:00:40 PM

One of the coolest macros EVER! Fantastic subject (I have no idea what it is either) and I love all the effects you used. The colors just pop!

8/23/2006 6:11:24 PM

Thanks Marsha.

8/23/2006 6:51:14 PM

AMAZING Macro, Connie....Very Unique, never seen anything quite like it....Incredible Details & Color.... :^)

8/24/2006 6:07:52 AM

Magnificent capture, outstanding clarity and details.

8/24/2006 9:57:18 AM

Spendid image. He's quite a bug. You really got a great capture of him with wonderful detail and the dew drops. Great work.

8/24/2006 4:47:39 PM

Thank you Ross, Tamara, and Mary.

8/24/2006 8:20:54 PM

Really COOL macro, Connie!

8/27/2006 11:53:03 PM

Beautiful gallery..love this!

8/29/2006 10:12:39 AM

Wow! Fantastic photo! This one is awesome.

8/29/2006 8:07:02 PM

Thanks Brenda, Shelly, and David.

8/30/2006 2:39:24 PM

Congratulations, Connie!! :^)

9/27/2006 1:12:46 AM

...what an amazing macro Connie...congrats on this finalist too :0)...Aimee

9/27/2006 4:24:27 AM

Wow, this is great. Congratulations

9/27/2006 4:57:26 AM

Thanks Ross, Aimee, and Kathleen.

9/27/2006 8:02:04 AM

Big Congrats, Connie! Knew this was a special guy! Good luck!

9/27/2006 8:32:18 AM

Congratulations and good luck.

9/27/2006 9:00:37 AM

Congrats Connie! Great job!

9/27/2006 10:48:09 AM

Thanks Kathy, Tamara, and David.

9/27/2006 2:39:10 PM

Wonderful macro. Congratulations.

9/28/2006 5:00:31 PM

Huge Congratulations, Connie....a FANTASTIC WINNER....GREAT JOB!!! :^)

9/28/2006 11:56:19 PM

Connie, congratulations on your Second Place win.

9/29/2006 12:50:55 AM

Congratulations, Connie! :)

9/29/2006 1:09:39 AM

gorgeous image. Congratulations!

9/29/2006 3:46:57 AM

Big congrats on your winning image, Connie...

9/29/2006 6:37:10 AM

I knew this would be a winner :o)!!! CONGRATS, Connie!!

9/29/2006 6:51:33 AM

Fantastic Connie. Congratulations!

9/29/2006 6:52:35 AM

Congratulations on your fantastic 2nd place winner.

9/29/2006 6:59:27 AM

Thank you everyone!

9/29/2006 7:05:15 AM

WOW WHAT A CREATURE!!! Amazing details! GREAT WINNER Connie!! Congrats!

9/29/2006 10:11:00 AM

Congrats on the WIN Connie!!!! Woohoo! I really liked this bug. Also, congrats on your other finalists (I can't remember how many, but I think it was 4). :) Nice job.

9/29/2006 3:04:26 PM

Fantastic macro. Congrats on your S P W!! ":^D}

9/29/2006 5:09:10 PM

Congrats on this SPECTACULAR macro Connie!!

9/29/2006 6:23:03 PM

Fantastic macro
Congratulations, Connie!

Bill

9/29/2006 6:50:32 PM

Thank you so much She-She, Rebecca, RC, Michelle, and William.

9/29/2006 7:20:10 PM

Congratulations Connie on this fantastic win. I just love this!

9/29/2006 7:56:25 PM

Wow!! Your second place win was well deserved. Fantastic macro!!
Sam

9/29/2006 9:20:14 PM

Thanks Kristi and Sam.

9/30/2006 7:04:52 AM

Congratulations to you on your win Connie!!!

9/30/2006 5:47:18 PM

Thanks Colette.

9/30/2006 6:08:39 PM

Wow! Awesome capture, Connie. Congratulations on your win.

10/1/2006 6:36:16 PM

Thank you Cora.

10/2/2006 8:59:11 AM

OK, I only have a Canon 30D, plus a Sigma 105MM Lens. With a lot of practice please tell me mine (at least some) will one day look as amazing as this. Just one question..... Would you say that you run almost everything through Photoshop?? Would you be willing to share what it looked like before?? Again, awesome!!!

10/2/2006 12:49:33 PM

10/2/2006 1:24:45 PM

Awesome image Connie! The detail and color are fantastic! Congratulations on your win!

10/4/2006 5:02:46 PM

Oh wow Connie, That is such an awesome capture. Really Great

10/4/2006 5:21:43 PM

Wow Connie! I just saw this for the first time. It is quite an amazing image...congrats!

10/12/2006 2:08:31 PM

Hi Connie, I just wanted to say great photo! I was also wondering if anyone knows what kind of insect this is. I shot a half roll of slide film of the very same type of insect on my front porch. He was hanging upside down from a leaf sucking the guts out of a wasp. This is definately not a mosquito. It feeds on other insects. I felt sorry for the wasp actually. It had no escape and was a cruel death to say the least.This insect holds onto the wings of it's victim from behind and hangs by one leg while feeding.I need to scan those images.I'm hoping to have them done soon.I'll let you know when I get them uploaded.I just bought a new scanner. I've been using an HP Photosmart S20 for years.I just upgraded to a Nikon coolscan V ED.It may take a little while to get used to it.Congatulations on your win!

10/13/2006 9:22:36 AM

I also wanted to mention that I'm from Pennsylvania. I don't know what the geographical range of this insect is.What state are you from ?

10/13/2006 9:26:15 AM

Thanks Tom, Cheryl, Laurie, and Rob.

I believe this is a Robber Fly and I think they have a wide distribution. This photo was taken in Kansas.

10/13/2006 9:39:22 AM

Thanks Connie,that fills in a few blanks for me.Yes,I've heard of the Robber Fly before.But,didn't recall what they looked like.I shoot a lot of things and don't know what they are.It can be quite a task figuring it all out later.I scanned a few images today with the new scanner.I'm getting to know my way around it.I'll try to scan some of those images later today that I was telling you about. Thanks Again,Rob

10/13/2006 11:47:53 AM

Cool effects! Great comp., colors, dof, and all! :)
Congratulations!

Ariel
ScrattyPhotography.com
ScrattyPhotography Blog

10/13/2006 5:37:21 PM

Thanks Ariel.

10/14/2006 6:24:10 PM

Yes Connie, This is definitely a Robber Fly. I did some reading about them on the Internet. These are voracious predators. I thought it was intesting that they actually are known to feed on Dragonflies. Another larger predator. I thought you might be interested in checking out this link. http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/beneficial/flies/robber_flies.htm
I haven't had time to scan my images of the Robber Fly yet. I had a very busy weekend. Maybe later today.

10/16/2006 6:35:22 AM

I finally got around to scanning and uploading it. I entered it into the contest today. Copy and paste to check it out. http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/dynoGallDetail.asp?photoID=2889296&catID=560&style=&contestCatID=&rowNumber=1&camID=

10/22/2006 4:35:40 PM

Great Winner! Congrats! :)

11/8/2006 5:42:10 PM

What an amazing macro shot !

6/25/2007 6:35:48 PM

What an awesome macro shot Connie. Great detail and color. Well deserved recognition.

2/23/2008 5:42:44 AM